The Vroman effect, named after Leo Vroman, describes the process of competitive protein adsorption to a surface by blood serum proteins. The highest mobility proteins generally arrive first and are later replaced by less mobile proteins that have a higher affinity for the surface. The order of protein adsorption also depends on the molecular weight of the species adsorbing.[1] Typically, low molecular weight proteins are displaced by high molecular weight protein while the opposite, high molecular weight being displaced by low molecular weight, does not occur. A typical example of this occurs when fibrinogen displaces earlier adsorbed proteins on a biopolymer surface and is later replaced by high molecular weight kininogen.[2] The process is delayed in narrow spaces and on hydrophobic surfaces, fibrinogen is usually not displaced. Under stagnant conditions initial protein deposition takes place in the sequence: albumin; globulin; fibrinogen; fibronectin; factor XII, and HMWK.[3]
Molecular Mechanisms of Action
While the exact mechanism of action is still unknown many important protein physical properties play a part in the Vroman Effect. Proteins have many properties that are important to take into consideration when discussing protein adsorption. These properties include the protein size, charge, mobility, stability, and the structure and composition of the different protein domains that make up the protein's tertiary structure. Protein size determines the molecular weight. Protein charge determines whether preferentially or selective favorable interactions will exist between the protein and a biomaterial. Protein mobility plays a factor in adsorption kinetics.
Adsorption - Desorption Model
The simplest molecular explanation for the exchange of proteins on a surface is the adsorption/desorption model. Here, proteins interact with the surface of a biomaterial and "stick" on the material through interactions made with the protein and the biomaterial surface. Once a protein has adsorbed onto the surface of a biomaterial, the protein may change conformation (structure) and even become nonfunctional. The spaces between the proteins on the biomaterial then become available for new proteins to adsorb. Desorption occurs when the protein leaves the biomaterial surface. This simple model lacks in complexity, since Vroman-like behavior has been observed on hydrophobic surfaces as well as hydrophilic ones.[4][5] Furthermore, adsorption and desorption doesn't completely explain competitive protein exchange on hydrophilic surfaces.[6]
Transient Complex Model
A "transient complex" model was first proposed by Huetz et al. to explain this competitive exchange.[6] This transient complex exchange occurs in three distinct steps. Initially a protein embeds itself into the monolayer of an already adsorbed homogenous protein monolayer. The aggregation of this new heterogenous protein mixture causes the "turning" of the double-protein complex which exposes the initially adsorbed protein to the solution. In the third step, the protein that was initially adsorbed can now diffuse out into the solution and the new protein takes over. This 3 part "transient complex mechanism" is further explained and verified through AFM imaging by Hirsh et al.[7]
pH Cycling
Jung et al. also describe a molecular mechanism for fibrinogen displacement involving pH cycling.[8] Here the αC domains of fibrinogen change charge after pH cycling which results in conformational changes to the protein that leads to stronger interactions with the protein and the biomaterial.[8]
Mathematical Models
The simplest mathematical model to explain the Vroman Effect is the Langmuir model using the Langmuir isotherm.[9][10] More complex models include the Fruendlich isotherm and other modifications to the Langmuir model. This model explains the kinetics between reversible adsorption and desorption, assuming the adsorbate behaves as an ideal gas at isothermal conditions.
See also
References
- ↑ Noh, Hyeran; Vogler, Erwin A. (January 2007). "Volumetric Interpretation of Protein Adsorption: Competition from Mixtures and the Vroman Effect". Biomaterials. 28 (3): 405–422. doi:10.1016/j.biomaterials.2006.09.006. ISSN 0142-9612. PMC 2705830. PMID 17007920.
- ↑ Horbett, Thomas A (October 2018). "Fibrinogen adsorption to biomaterials". Journal of Biomedical Materials Research. Part A. 106 (10): 2777–2788. doi:10.1002/jbm.a.36460. ISSN 1549-3296. PMC 6202247. PMID 29896846.
- ↑ Vroman, L.; Adams, AL; Fischer, GC; Munoz, PC (1980). "Interaction of high molecular weight kininogen, factor XII, and fibrinogen in plasma at interfaces". Blood. 55 (1): 156–9. doi:10.1182/blood.V55.1.156.156. PMID 7350935.
- ↑ Ball, Vincent; Voegel, Jean-Claude; Schaaf, Pierre (2003-01-15), Mechanism of Interfacial Exchange Phenomena for Proteins Adsorbed at Solid – Liquid Interfaces, Surfactant Science, vol. 20033926, CRC Press, doi:10.1201/9780824747343.ch11, ISBN 978-0-8247-0863-4, retrieved 2021-11-18
- ↑ Slack, Steven M; Horbett, Thomas A (November 1989). "Changes in the strength of fibrinogen attachment to solid surfaces: An explanation of the influence of surface chemistry on the Vroman effect". Journal of Colloid and Interface Science. 133 (1): 148–165. Bibcode:1989JCIS..133..148S. doi:10.1016/0021-9797(89)90288-9. ISSN 0021-9797.
- 1 2 Huetz, Ph.; Ball, V.; Voegel, J.-C.; Schaaf, P. (August 1995). "Exchange Kinetics for a Heterogeneous Protein System on a Solid Surface". Langmuir. 11 (8): 3145–3152. doi:10.1021/la00008a046. ISSN 0743-7463.
- ↑ Hirsh, Stacey L.; McKenzie, David R.; Nosworthy, Neil J.; Denman, John A.; Sezerman, Osman U.; Bilek, Marcela M. M. (2013-03-01). "The Vroman effect: Competitive protein exchange with dynamic multilayer protein aggregates". Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces. 103: 395–404. doi:10.1016/j.colsurfb.2012.10.039. ISSN 0927-7765. PMID 23261559.
- 1 2 Jung, Seung-Yong; Lim, Soon-Mi; Albertorio, Fernando; Kim, Gibum; Gurau, Marc C.; Yang, Richard D.; Holden, Matthew A.; Cremer, Paul S. (2003-09-25). "The Vroman Effect: A Molecular Level Description of Fibrinogen Displacement". Journal of the American Chemical Society. 125 (42): 12782–12786. doi:10.1021/ja037263o. hdl:1969.1/1577. ISSN 0002-7863. PMID 14558825.
- ↑ Slack, Steven M.; Horbett, Thomas A. (1995-05-05), The Vroman Effect, ACS Symposium Series, vol. 602, Washington, DC: American Chemical Society, pp. 112–128, doi:10.1021/bk-1995-0602.ch008, ISBN 9780841233041, retrieved 2021-11-18
- ↑ LeDuc, Charles A.; Vroman, Leo; Leonard, Edward F. (October 1995). "A Mathematical Model for the Vroman Effect". Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research. 34 (10): 3488–3495. doi:10.1021/ie00037a037. ISSN 0888-5885.